Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,381

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed April 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 22, 1927. 1,650,381

J. F. O'CONNOR V FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBI NG MECHANISM Filed April 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 92 4 1294 a! E 4 nel-shaped center or, draft sills or a-railWay Patented Nov, 22 v r. oceiiiion; on

enrcneo, Inriin oIs',.-assIG von T H. MINER, Inc, or

, cnIoAe iLI-ZINQJ Si 7A: conronnrrron or DELAWARE,

ammonia" and "spin 17',

This invention relatesto im r vem n frictionshock absorbingdnechanl mg One object of the inventionis. to'p'rovi'de' a friction shock absorbing"mechanism of high capacity, especially adapted for rail-i' way draft rigging, including a plurality of relatively movable "friction elements of;

the anchorage between the follower and movable friction element being designed to provide maximum strength;

Still another object of the invention is to provide'a friction shock absorbing mecha'-' nism of the characterindicated, including a plurality of relatively movable friction elements in the form of relatively heavy plates or bars, wherein the friction elements are braced to prevent distortion of the sa'me under the heavy forces acting during-com pression of the mechanism;

Other and further objects andadvanta g es of. this invention will'more fully and clearly j appear, from the description and claims v v and the other flange being spaced rearwardly hereinafter following.

In the drawings,'form1ng a part of this specification, l igure 1 1s a longitudinal,-

horizontal, sectional view of aportion-of'ra railway draft rigging, showing my IHIPIOVQ' I V are provlded with pockets 22'22, each wall ments in connection therewith. Figure 2is a frontelevational view of the shock absorb-f ing mechanism proper. Figure 3 1s atrans-y verse, vertical, sectional view correspondingsubstantially 'to t-he l1ne3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a lOngitndinaL vertical, sec tional view of the front end ofthe shock 'absorbing mechanism proper, corresponding substantially to the line-47 1- of Figure 2.

Figures 5 and'6 aredetailed, perspective views respectively of one ofthe frlctlon' elements and a friction shoe employed in connection with my improved mechanism,

and Figure 7 is arear end, elevational View of a wedge member employed in my 1111- proved IDECllHIllSlII." I

In said drawings,

10-1O indicate chanfollower anchored to the movable car'underframe, to the' inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 1j1'-11and'r'ear stop lugslQ -ILQ. The inner end of f the drawbar is designated by 13, to which is operatively connected a yoke 14 ofwell-known form. Theshock absorbing mechanism proper and'a front main'follower 15 aredisposed within the yoke, the yokeahdf-the parts therewithin being supported in operat ive relation bya detachable saddle plate 16' fixed to the'draft sills.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises broadly a casing A; a pair of liners B B; main wedge G; pair of friction Wedge shdesD-D, a pair of fiXQtlfllCtiOIl elements"E-'E; 'a' pair of longitudinally movable friction elements i -F a main spring resistance G an auxil' ia-ryspring resistance'H; a spring follower J; and a retaineribolt K. v

The casing A is of generally rectangular box-like form having horizontally disposed spaced top and bottom walls 17-17, longitudinally extending spaced vertical side walls- 18-18, and a transverse vertical rear end wall 19. The end 'Wall 19 co-operates with the rear stop lugs'12 in the manner of the usual rear follower. Adjacent the front end of the casing, each side wall 18 is providedrwith a pair of inwardly projecting flanges '2020, one of the flanges of each pair coinc'iding'with the front end of the casing thereof. The flanges 20 are centrally cut away as indicated'at 21-21 to permit insertion' of the spring resistance elements G. The top and bot-tom walls 17 of the casing being provided withaj single pocket extending across the same. shown are'substantially concave in form and are adapted to receive extensions on the fixed friction elements serving as seat-s forthe the outer andinner'fiange's 20 on the side walls thereof. The liners areprovided with lateral enlargements 23 on the outer sides thereof adapted to snugly fit between the The pockets 22 as front and rear flanges at the corresponding sides of the casing, thereby preve'ntihglohgitudinal displacement of the liners. At the front and rear ends, the liners are cut away as most clearly shown in- Figure 2',- to pre sent central convex enlargements adapted to" wedge block Gisfin the fol-m of a? hollow casting'j' having a front. end face 26 adaptedto bear Orr-the inner face of the main;

fellows-r5; At the inner end, the Block C has afpair ofwedge faces 27-2? converg ing inwardly of the mechanism. As most clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and Z, the Wedge faces, 27 of the block C are of substantiall'y V form;

The friction shoes D, which are twoin number, are disp'osed at opposite sidesof the mechanism and co-operate with" the wedge block C. The shoes D are of the same design, each having, an outer longitu dinally disposed friction surface 28 of substantially V-form adaptedto co-operate with the corresponding friction element E. On-

the inner side, each slice is provided with a lateral enlargement 29 at the forward end thereof having a front wedge face 127 of V-form, correspondingly inclined to the wedge face 27 at the same side-01f the wedge block- C and co-operating,therewith. At the inner end, the enlargement 29 of eachshoe presents a transverse flat face adapted to co operatewith the frontendofthe auxiliary sp'ringresistance I-I'. Rearwardly of the enlargement- 29, the friction slioe D is cut away as most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 6 to accommodate the coil forming; the auxils iaryspring resistance H, the cut awayportion being inthe form of aconc'ave pocket 30;-

The friction plates E,v which are two in number, are disposed at opposite sidesof'the friction shoes D. The two plates E are of the same design and asmost clearly shownin Figures 2and-4, each plate is cutaway at;

opposite sides to present re entrant-V-shaped longitudinally disposed frict-ioir surfaces.

The friction surface on the inner side of each friction element E is designated 128 and correspondsin contour With-the frictionsurface 28 of the friction shoe D at the same side of the-mechanism andis a'daptedto-c'ooperate therewith. The outer friction surface of each friction element E is designatedby 31 and is adapted. to co-operate with a similar friction surface on the correspond ingmovable friction plate F. As most clearly. shown in Figures 2 and3,,each friction element E is provided with enlargenients32 32 at the upper! and lower sides thereof, the enlargements'32 having convex outer surfacesand fitting within the pockets 22 of the topand bottom" walls 17 at the correspondin side of the casing A. The

side portions of the enlargements proje'c'i:- laterally beyond the friction surfaces of the element E and overhang the friction shoe D and the movable friction plate F at the same, side of the mechanism, as most clearly shown igures 2"and 3. The enlargemen'ts 32 have. a certain amountof play laterally inIthe pockets 22' so that the fixedfrictionplates. may bedisplacedl laterally during compression; of the mechanism and stillbe held? positively against longitin dinali movement with reference to the easingfi. v i

The friction; plates F, which: are also two in number, are disposed at opposite sides of the: mechanism and are interposed between the linersB and: the friction plates E. The

friction plates Fare ofidenticaldesign, and

as most clearly shownin Figure 5, each plate is of substantially triangular cross-f section. Each plate F is-provid'edwith anou-ter longitudinally disposed flat frictionsurface-124- adapted: to co-operate- Withthe corresponding flat friction surface 2 L of the liner 15- at the same side of the mechanism. On,- the inner side, each fiiction element F presents a V-shapedfriction surface 131 in terfi tting with the friction surface-3L of the fixed friction element E at thesanie side of the-mechanism. Adjacent the rearend, eachfriction; element F is-provided on the inner side thereof with; groove 33- for" a purpose hereinafter described;

The spring, fol-lower J comprises a main body portion inthe form of a relatively he'av plat-eprovidedwith lateralflanges 34 at t e opposite side" edges thereof, the flanges 34L being forwardly: offset with reference to the main bodyportion of the follower and of V-fo-rni soas: to fit the V shapedirecesses-or grooves 33 of the movable friction elements F. The front face 1 of the follower J is centrally, recessedasindicated at 35 to providea' seatfor, therear' end of: the spring resistance H. The spring follower J is also'provide'd with a forwardly projecting central 'lug'36 recessed to receive the head of the retainer bolt-K. The recess is open-at one side asshoWnto-permit lateral insertion? ofthe head ofthe bolt and the front Wall: of the lug is slotted to accommodate-tlier-shank of thebolt. V

The spring resistance elements G coniprise twounits in twin arrangement, each unit consisting of a relatively heavy outer coil and a lighter inner coil, the opposite ends of the coils bearing respectively on; the transverse rear" end wall 19 ofthe casing;A

andthe-rear face of the'springfollower,and

' shown inFigure 1.

the inner end of the corresponding movable friction element F. The spring resistance G is placedv under initial oompresison when the parts are assemblejdand are in the, positlon .The auxlliary spring resistance H, which is 111 the form of a single co1l, 1s interposed between the enlargements onthe frictlon shoes D-D" and thefront'side of the spring follower J, the inner end of the coilbeing seated in the opening 35. of the spring follower. 7 a a The retainer bolt K hasv the opposite ends thereof anchored to thespring follower J andthe wedge block C, the head of. the bolt being seated in therecess of the lug 36- as ends ofihe elements F, compressing the springs slightly, and the elements EE are entered at the center and moved outward into place, and pressure released. The retainerzbolt K, spring H, shoes 'D-D and -wedge Care applied in the order mentioned.

Pressure is nowapplied to wedge (J and the bolt K adjusted, to overall length' In this connection, it is pointed out that the top and bottom. walls of the shell are centrally recessed to permit insertion of the elements Figure 1. of the drawings shows the full release position of the parts'of the mechanism. As shown in this figure, the friction plates E are engagedby a springfollower J, limiting the outward movement-thereof and the friction shoes D-D are slightly spaced from-the front face of the spring follower. In the normal, full release positionof the parts, the'fron't ends of-the move able frictionelementsF are spaced from the inner face of themam follower 15 and, this condition prevails throughout the operation of the mechanism, the movement of the plates ,F being eifected through-the medium of the wedge C, friction shoes DfD and the springfollower. J. V

The operation of my improved shockabsorbing mechanism upon compression, is as follows: The front follower 15 and the wedge block C are moved inwardly relatively to the casing A. During the initial compression, the spring H iwill first be com pressed until the inner ends of the friction friction elements F inwardly also.

shoes D come into engagement with the spring follower J, whereupon the spring follower will :bemoved with the friction shoes Dand' the main spring resistance'elements (I will be compressed. During the relative movement of: the wedge C and the casing" A, a wedging action will be set up between the wedge block and the friction shoes, forcing the shoes laterally against the friction elements E, bringing the latter into tight frictional engagement with the elements F,

and forcing the latter against the friction surfaces ofthe liners 1). During the in- .wa'rd moveinentof the wedge block-,0 and wedge friction. shoes D--l),the springffol lowerv willbe forced inwardly, carrying the This: 7

action will continue either until the aotuating force is reduced, or the mainfollower 15 comes into abutment with the. oute'rend of the casing A, whereupon the pressure will be transi'nitted directly through the main follower and the casin to the stoplugs on the draft siils. th elements acting as a solid column load sustaining means to transmit the actuating force and relieve the main springs from excessive compression. When the actuating force is reduced, the main spring resistance (Jr will return the parts to normal position. Outward movement of the spring follower-J will be limited by engagement with the inner ends of the-fric' tion elements E which are held against longitudinal iiioveii'ieiit' within the pockets 220i the casing'A. The expansive action of the spring H will return the frictionshoes D and wedge block C to normal position, outward movement of these elements being limited by the retainer bolt J which is anchored to the spring follower and wedge block.

From the preceding description taken in connection'with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided a shock absorbing mechanism of high capacity which is of sturdy and rugged design. The rela-.

tively movable friction elen'ients are of 'ex- I ceptional strength, on accountof the same being provided with enlarged sections. It

will be evident that by providing thefriction elements with V-shaped engagingsur faces, and making the outer movable friction elements of substantially triangular cross-section, all of these elements are greatly strengthened over friction elements of plate-like form, which are of the same thickness'throughout; The fixed plates are also of unusual strength due to the upper and lower portions thereof, which engage within the pockets of the top and bottom walls a of the casing, being enlarged laterally. The V-iorm construction of flanges on the spring follower engaging within correspondingly formed openings or grooves in the movable friction elements also imparts maximum strength to the connection betweenthe spring follower and frlctlon elements.

IVhile I have herein shown and describedreference to the column member, said first named elements being laterally enlarged to provide strength-againstdistortion, and said second named.- friction elements having frie- Lion surfaces" inter fitting with said laterally enlarged portions of said first named friction elements,rthe friction surfaces of said secondnamed elements embracing and laterally, overhanging said first named elements;friction shoes frictionally engaging said second named elements; lateral'wedge pressure creating means co-operating with said shoes; and a spring resistance element opposing movement of said lirst named friction elements.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a column member having longitudinally disposed flat friction surfaces; of frictionelements held against movement longitudinally of said member; a plurality of friction elements relatively movable longitudinally of said member and engaging the friction surfaces thereof, saidelements having friction surfaces of V-form cooperating with similar friction surfaces on said first-named ele-rments; friction shoes frictionally engaging said first named elements; amain spring resistance opposing movement of said second named elements; and pressure transmitting and'lateral wedge pressure creating means co-operating with said shoes;

3 In a friction shockabsorbing mechanisnnthe combination with a column member; of a main follower, said follower and column member being relatively movable; a plurality of relatively movable friction elements, certain of which co-operate withment' faces for anchoring the springsfollower' t0 the elementshav-ingl the abutment faces; said anchoring flanges andabutment faces beingof greater length than the height of the friction elements to provide relatively large engaging facesto prevent distortion of the spring follower andl a spningresistanoe: opposing movement of the spring follower.

In a friction shock: absorbing mechanism; the: combination with a column mem her having, loiw'itudi-nallydisposed friction surfaces; of longitudinally disposed friction elements cooperating; with; the friction sur- 7 faces of saidi'member'fa: main spring} re sistance a spring; follower co -operatingziwith the spring resistance,-saidispring follower raving lianges' of V-forhr engaging.- simielarly paralleLgroov-esiir snarmaea elements for anchoring the 'elsaments: to the spring follower additional friction elements held against longitudinal movement during p the compression stroke of the mechanism projectingv V-shaped surfaces: on the innerg sides thereof pair of friction elementsenlarged at the top and bottom to provideportions of: dove tailed cross-section,v saidL- enlargements being seated in pockets in said shell to hold 7 said "last-named elements: against longitudinal movement with reference to the shell, but permitting a certain amount of lateral displacement of said -elea ments beingiprovided with friction surfaces on the opposite sides of said enlargements, said' last-named elements frictionally engaging. said first-named elements and overhangingnthe V-shaped friction surfaces thereof;

a main spring resistance and aco-operating spring follower; a friction wedge system including friction shoes cooperating with said friction'el'ements, said wedge system engaging the spring follower during compression' of themechanism to effect movement of the: same; and means on said spring f0llower engaging said first namedfriction ele ments to effect movement-thereof with refer ence tothe remaining friction elements.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto"subscribed my name-this 13th day of April, 1926.

JonNr. oooNNoR 

